Category: Wildlife and Nature

The Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park is presenting the next installment of their “For the Springs” Virtual Speaker and Performance Series on Thursday, December 10 beginning at 7 p.m. Join author and avid naturalist, Doug Alderson, for an entertaining look at how our most celebrated reptile has inspired numerous pieces of art, stories, tourism initiatives, and even comedy throughout our state.

To register for this one-of-a-kind, virtual event, please click here.

Courtesy of the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park, the “Gator Cam” brings you a unique view of Wakulla Springs waterway and native wildlife. Check out the live footage!

From white-tailed deer to alligators and shorebirds to bald eagles, the rivers, lakes, beaches, trails, and natural areas of Wakulla County are havens for wildlife watching. Check out some of the prime spots for viewing various species so you can make the most of your trip.

Read More about Wakulla Wildlife Watching

In Wakulla County, this is the ideal time to reflect on how thankful we are for the remarkable natural ecosystems in the area that are so important to our way of life.

Go birdwatching in an ecologically diverse environment

If your idea of communing with nature is grabbing a pair of binoculars and a birding book and scouring the skies for interesting avian species, then Wakulla County is the perfect place for you to enjoy a weekend of birdwatching. In areas such as the beautiful St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the lush Ochlockonee River State Park, you can view numerous different species of birds throughout the county in their natural environments and migratory routes.

One of the reasons why birdwatching opportunities abound in this region is because of the diversity of ecological habitats that coexist in Wakulla County. Shorebirds are drawn to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, waterfowl gather in the numerous marshes and freshwater sources, and rare woodpeckers make their home in dense evergreen forests—and that’s only scratching the surface!

Take in the beauty of your surroundings on a hike

When you crave to feel closer to nature, hiking truly is one of the best and most satisfying activities. It allows you to feel the changes of the ground beneath your feet, touch the trees with your hands, and experience how far away industrialized civilization can feel just by going a little bit off the beaten path. When you visit Wakulla County, you can hike until your heart’s content on everything from small nature trails to long backcountry excursions. With areas such as the Apalachicola National Forest, Wakulla Springs State Park, and Fort San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, you can explore the wonderful wilderness of the Florida panhandle on foot and foster a real appreciation for the role that nature has played in shaping the character of this region.

Ride your bike through beautiful nature trails and scenic roads

Clear blue skies pass above, tall marsh grasses sway in the gentle breeze, and majestic trees from centuries past line the trails; is there any better scenery for an invigorating bike ride? Come to take a ride down dedicated trails like the Tallahassee to St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, the Ochlockonee Bay Bike Trail, or sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail to breeze by some of the most beautiful natural habitats in Wakulla County.

In order to fully grasp the beauty of our natural environment and understand why it is so important to Wakulla County, you have to see it for yourself. Now is the time to start planning your stay at Wakulla County, where you can immerse yourself in nature and be thankful for the lands and waters that are open and available to us.

There’s nothing like a personal encounter with nature to remind us that we should be thankful for all that our planet has given us. The amazing diversity of life throughout Wakulla County is an integral part of this area, and there are many places where you can get a first-hand view of these species.

Looking to the skies

Birdwatchers and ornithology enthusiasts will find themselves in paradise when they come to Wakulla County. Because of the diversity of our natural environment, including an abundance of rivers, lakes, coastline, and forests, a wide array of different avian species call our county home. Some of them live in Wakulla County throughout the year, and others can be spotted during specific seasons as a part of their migration patterns.

One of the premier places for bird watching and photography in the county is the stunning St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is home to the north-south migratory bird flyway, so you’re likely to catch a variety of different species as they make way to their summer or winter homes. The refuge is also ground zero for the monarch butterfly migration in early autumn, and you might catch majestic eagles and osprey nesting in the trees throughout the spring.

A wonderland of marine life

Waterways are central to the environment of Wakulla County, and the marine species that call this area home are a reflection of the importance that the lakes, rivers, springs, and ocean have to these lands. Wakulla Springs State Park is one of the most notable areas for marine species viewing, as the park offers glass-bottom riverboat cruises throughout the day when the water clarity is high. You may also spot a manatee swimming through the waters of the park between October and January.

The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea is also a place where you and your children can interact with aquatic animals and learn about their role in the ecosystem as well. This lab features numerous touch tanks, and showcases many species that are unique to the North Florida coast.

An incredible forest ecosystem

You might not want to spend all of your time near the water, however, because there is a remarkable number of land animal species that live throughout many areas of Wakulla County as well. This region is home to some dense woodland areas, where you might catch a glimpse of animals such as white-tailed deer, feral hogs, and bobcats.

Take some time to explore the massive Apalachicola National Forest, where you are permitted to hike anywhere within. If you’re lucky in the fall, you just might spot a wild turkey roaming the forest floor.

This November, enjoy the beauty of nature in Wakulla County. As the Florida heat begins to cool off, now is the perfect time to appreciate and be thankful for the outdoors. Stay with us awhile and enjoy restful nights away from the big city or bright lights.

In a guest post by Don Morrow, he shares his findings of the first St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Tour of the season. It’s time to get down to St. Marks and go birding.

The first St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge tours of the season took place on a sultry Fall day. This is a transitional time; those migrants that pass completely through our area are finishing up, while the winter resident species are coming in. I had five duck species today and eight this week. I’ve had Raccoon, Deer, Coyotes (calling) and a Black Bear this week.

Adding in some early morning recreational birding today I logged 71 species. Some highlights of the day were:

• Double Dikes
• King Rail & Sora (calling predawn to the North)
• Large cloud of Tree Swallows in the early morning
• Vermillion Flycatcher (male hanging in the area for the winter)
• Stony Bayou I
• Plovers (Black-bellied and Semipalmated)
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Willet
• Ruddy Turnstone
• Sandpipers (Western & Least)
• Dunlin
• SB Dowitcher
• Terns (Caspian & Forster’s)
• Stony Bayou II
• Wood Duck
• Northern Pintail
• Blue-winged Teal
• Northern Shoveler
• American Wigeon
• Merlin

We had a female Bobolink along the levee separating Mounds Pool I and III. Over the last few days I’ve been getting Catbirds, Phoebes, Marsh & House Wrens, Swamp & Song Sparrows along the levee edges. I’ve had Kestrel and Peregrine Falcons and also lots of cool butterflies.

The temperature is about to decrease and bird diversity at the refuge is about to increase. The winds following the front should bring down other ducks, Yellow-rumped Warblers, RC Kinglets and lots of other avian goodies. We’re Americans. This is your refuge. As soon as the front passes, get down to St. Marks and go birding.

Good Birding

-Don Morrow

Wakulla County has many things that draw folks to our small part of Florida, World Record pole-vaulting fish and deep freshwater springs, saltwater fishing, lighthouses, and the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory. But what many people don’t realize is that Wakulla has some of the darkest skies in Florida.

Many people have never thought about our skies other than to help determine if it’s good fishing weather. What I mean by dark skies is actually light pollution. Light pollution is that ugly glow caused by light in the night sky that keeps us from seeing night time sky constellations which include the Milky Way, our galactic neighbor. To simplify, light pollution experts created a scale called the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale. This scale will rate your ability to see constellations with the naked eye. The scale rates any location worldwide with a class rating of 1 through 9. 1 is an excellent dark-sky site like the middle of Antarctica, through 9 which is an inner-city sky similar to Central Park in New York City.

Now that I’ve bored you with the technical mumbo jumbo, I will jump into the interesting stuff. What is awesome is that most all of the skies above our heads here in Wakulla fall between a class 2 and class 3 and to give you an example of how dark we have it [in Wakulla], Tallahassee skies fall between a class 6 and 7. These dark sky areas benefit us in so many ways.

First dark skies benefit nature. Light pollution can affect an animal’s nocturnal abilities and navigation capabilities so migrating birds have it easier when we have less man-made lights to confuse them. Second, scientists say that light pollution has an effect on human health and anyone who has had a migraine headache can agree “no light is better”. Third, and in my humble opinion the most important, our dark skies down here in Wakulla gives us the greatest ability to see our stars and galactic neighbors in the Milky Way.

I love to photograph the night sky and find that it’s quick and easy to shoot from my back yard or take the 10-15-minute drive to one of our local coastlines and I can gaze and photograph all night long. We have some of the best views anywhere from St. Marks to Mashes Sands Beach. Those night skies are what many in night photography are jealous of. Many astrophotographers or night photographers must travel hours to get views that we have here in Wakulla.

So do yourself a favor and next time you head out on a clear night look up and savor another reason why Wakulla is such a great place.

Written by Michael Simmons of Flying Rotor Films

So what is all the excitement about in June? What does the “new moon” have to do with fishing? Why is Wakulla celebrating such an occurrence? Simple, some of the brightest minds in fishing know it is the best time of the year to explore our coast!

June is the perfect month to get salty. The weather will be at its best. The May winds are gone, and the July heat has not arrived. Expect warm to hot days, but also expect water temperatures to be perfect for a swim. Bring your mask and snorkel and explore the most pristine grass flats on earth. It could be a great time to scout your location for the July opening of scallop season?

What about the fishing? Well, every fish that swims in the gulf will be here in June! All you need to do is pick your target species. From giant silver tarpon, to the shallow water golden redfish, the bay will be alive with hungry fish! If you need a speckled trout fix, Wakulla is the place. How about a short offshore trip for kingfish, cobia, black sea bass, and gag grouper. Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, and Wakulla is a quiet door into the best fishing in the state. So, if you’re looking to catch the ingredients for your next set of fresh fish tacos, then June is the month!

There are several public boat landings in the county. All have great access to fish, and ample room for parking. Wakulla has no shortage of local tackle shops, marine fuel, fishing guides, marine repair facilities, and full-service marinas. If you are bringing your own boat, our hotels welcome boaters. If you are looking for some local fishing knowledge, just ask.

The “New Moon in June” signifies the beginning of summer fun, and enjoying the gulf coast. The new moon this year is June 24. The week proceeding, and the week following are historically awesome weeks for catching fish. If you are new to the area and bringing a boat, kayak, or just fishing from shore, buy the Top Spots Map Number N231. It is a great reference for getting familiar with the coast and the hottest fishing spots. Most local tackle shops will have a copy. While your there, ask for the local favorite fishing rigs. Better yet hire a guide to get you straight to catching fish!

Consider the “New Moon in June” as your invitation to explore Wakulla County.

It is my office most days, and it is spectacular! Hope to see you on the water.

Capt. Mike McNamara
St Marks Outfitters
850-510-7919 call/text
redfish@stmarksoutfitters.com

Archeologists confirmed what they believe to be remains of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The discovery was made Friday afternoon at Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla County, Florida

Authorities were first notified after a young girl playing at the springs happened to come across the remains of this thought-to-be-fictitious creature. The creature first came into prominence in the first-ever 3-D movie in 1954, filmed at the spring.

The young girl, who requested to remain anonymous, told authorities that this fortunate find was accidental. Her ring slipped off her finger while playing near the 2-story dive tower. Looking around the area for her lost ring, she noticed a part of the remains, and called her friends over to look.

“I never did find my ring,” she told local authorities. “But it looks like I found something even cooler!” Archeologists are currently working at the park. They were quickly brought in to preserve the remains, which are expected to go on display at the park later this year.

During a brief interview, Chief Archeologist on the project, Edward Sopp, said, “It’s fortunate that we found the remains where we did. The Spring has a flow rate of 200-300 million gallons of water every day, so we are very lucky that it wasn’t dislodged.”

For more information on the details of this story, please remember that it is April Fool’s Day. While this story may not be true, there are many fascinating features that have emerged from Wakulla Springs.

The current archaeological project (the real one) is open to visitors Tuesdays through Sundays between 10 and 2 p.m. The excavation for this cycle end April 24. To see where the 13,500-year-old mastodons were discovered, take a tour April 15 during the Wakulla Wildlife Festival. Walking With Mastodons is almost sold out.

To learn more about Wakulla Springs, you can explore Visit Wakulla’s Website. If you are interested in becoming more involved in preserving Wakulla Springs for future generations, please go to the Friends of Wakulla Springs Website.